HCS Navy unveil latest ships

Two more Triona class OPVs have successfully completed their trials and have been accepted into service by the HCS Navy. P09 Temple North will be deployed to Cloneland and AP10 Senrilla will be transferred to Aquaworld early next year. The two boats are to a updated specification with SA-N-6A self-defence SAMs and some modifications to the hull to improve sea keeping.

Meanwhile the new destroyer lead ship CNS Olana has begun sea trials following it's launch a few months ago. The ship still requires armament and some support equipment being fitted which will take place next year following these proving trials. The HCSN are still keeping to a "Summer 08" entry in service though this may be ambitious.

The sole frigate CNS Ailier has returned to base following the recent operation against pirates and will receive a refit and update. It should return to service next spring with SA-N-6A and other system updates.

Windy admits : "Boliticians kicked our ass!"

Windscorpion has admitted that his first encounter with the Bolitic Confederacy has not gone as well as originally implied. A few days ago a Bolitic ship attacked and disabled the communications array on SS Carboniferous and then 2 Bolitic soldiers boarded the transport SS Globemaster. Laser spot communications were used to alert Windy who beamed over to the transport with Salamander.

Unfortunately the DDS troops were defeated in battle, Windy had his suit badly scorched by a heat ray and Salamander's favourite chainsaw was destroyed. The Bolitic made off, presumably not finding anything worth stealing. Windy has said that the DDS has been complacent after decades of fighting "losers like the Clones and Utrek". "The Bolitic are a much tougher race, and i look forward to the rematch... the result will be different!"

TPM developments

A revised version of Milestone 3 of the next generation TPM-2 trans-phasic missile has been developed for testing. TPM-2 M3B has various updates of key sub-systems and has been readied for limited deployment to test the missile in near-combat conditions. Two Isometric frigates have received modifications to be able to use the missile (though not from the internal launcher - they will have them fitted to external pylons) and the Rome Bs (which are already TPM-2 ready) will also be given some to deploy in real-life scenarios. The missiles are unlikely to be used in an actual combat situation however.

The aerial version of the TPM-1, the TPM-A, has received an update. TPM-A2 has a better rocket motor for improved speed and endurance, software has also been improved to enhance terminal guidance and stowage safety. TPM-A2 will be used as the basis of a ground-based version, TPM-G. This will have a booster rocket first stage. The DDS hope to deploy TPM-G as part of the enhanced protection of key DDS sites in 2108.

DDS and HCS both announce future fighters

In an unusual co-incidence both the DDS Aviation Service and the HCSAF announced at media briefings they are working on new fighter projects to replace their current front line fighters in the 2120s (the DDS were first, it is thought the HCSAF bought their announcement forward a few days).

The DDS project has been named as ADF (Advanced DDS Fighter) and will replace the F-10S as front-line fighter (and replace the F-10A in totality) in the mid-2120s. It will be a highly agile, stealthy fighter of course. Some design studies published show a hybrid of F-10S and the HCS F-45 which would make for an interesting type! This project replaces the previously announced (but scant detailed) F-10X. Also at the briefing the DDS announced that the light attack aircraft currently in development, the NDAA, will be known as the A-12 in service.

The HCS project is called NGCA (Next Generation Combat Aircraft) and is expected to enter service in the early 2120s (so before the ADF). This will replace remaining F-40s in HCSAF service. Details of NGCA are being kept under wraps for now, one rumour is that it will be an advanced development of the F-45, a design said to have a lot of life left in it.

Jimmy and M-B-H go into Consul election run-off

As expected Jimmy and M-B-H easily were the 2 highest polling candidates in the first round of the Consul election. Jimmy took 59.2% of the vote and M-B-H 21.9%. Jimmy did slightly worse than expected and M-B-H a bit better but Jimmy is expected to easily win the second round, voting of which is late next week. In an opinion poll of voters for the other 2 candidates he was named by 73% of them as the candidate they would vote for out of him and M-B-H.

DDS gain Bolitic intelligence / Windy attacked

Thanks to the new DDS/Sirikwan military treaty signed by Windscorpion while he was there the DDS now have access to the Sirikwanese database on the Bolitic Confederacy, it is said the DDS now might even know more about the Bolitic than the Dinos! The Sirikwanese have discovered that the Bolitic are currently rebuilding some of their older BS4004 Helwin battlecruisers as BS4005 Helwin B. These include technology from the current BS4040 Snarl class. It is thought the Bolitic are also working on a replacement for the Snarl.

The Sirikwanese have discovered recent evidence of contact between the Utrek and the Bolitic. In the last few months Utrek military envoys have visited Castarian (the Bolitic capital world) twice and may help the Bolitic with engine technology. The Bolitic are lagging behind quite badly, literally! Their fastest ships, the Snarls, can only reach about 300c.

Meanwhile Task Force Windscorpion has run into some trouble in unclaimed space near the edge of the Bolitic Confederacy. A Helwin class ship of an unidentified House transmitted a virus into SS Carboniferous knocking out it's communications array and then attempted to board and raid SS Globemaster however the Bolitic were forced to retreat after Windy intervened.